Electrolytic gas generator producing hydrogen and oxygen from water - esp. where hydrogen can be used in small burners employed for melting metals or alloys

摘要

The generator consists of a tank with a lid from which a vertical pipe or duct projects downwards into the electrolyte to form a separate anode chamber and cathode chamber. Each chamber contains an electrode formed by a perforated plate. The two plates are concentric, and are located at the same height in a plane parallel with the base of the tank. The H2 and O2 are maintained at the same pressure in the tank, pref. by using a cathode chamber which is twice the size of the anode chamber. If the pressure in one chamber increases, the electrolyte level falls below the electrode so electrolysis automatically stops. For example the electrolysis of a 25% soln. of KOH or NaOH in water, which is heated to 70-90 deg.C. A steel cathode is used with a nickel-plated steel anode. One normal cu.m H2 is produced for 4.5 kW, and can be used to heat burners used in melting gold etc. or in mfg. dental prostheses.